Hong Hye-geol rebuffs claim he charged doctors 300,000 won per lecture

Hong Hye-geol, a 59-year-old broadcaster and former medical journalist, has rebuffed claims circulating online about past lectures he allegedly gave.

On Wednesday, Hong shared a screenshot on his social media account of an anonymous post, noting it had appeared on an anonymous message board on Friday.

The anonymous writer criticized Hong and his wife, Yeo Es-der, saying the couple were "relentless money-makers like no other" — particularly taking issue with their political views — while acknowledging they were "unmatched in their drive."

The post went on to claim that Hong "toured the country every weekend giving lectures to doctors on advertising law and regulation" and that the writer had personally witnessed this in 2007, when attendees paid 300,000 won ($217) per person to standing-room-only sessions. The writer added that Hong was "someone who reads the market and carves out his own role — thorough, formidable, and not just anyone could do it."

Hong pushed back sharply. "They say I toured the country charging doctors 300,000 won each for lectures on advertising and regulation, and that they saw it themselves. It's absurd. I have never given a single lecture like that," he wrote.

He then challenged anyone to come forward. "If there is a doctor who paid 300,000 won to attend one of my lectures, please speak up — I'll at least buy you a car," he wrote. Hong also denied a range of politically charged rumors that have followed him for decades, including claims that he attended a party celebrating the impeachment of former President Roh Moo-hyun and that he broke an embargo on coverage of scientist Hwang Woo-suk. "None of it is true. Just because our political views differ, people have been falsely accusing an innocent person for decades and egging each other on," he said.

Hong currently runs the YouTube medical channel "Bion Dwi" and serves as its chief. He married physician and entrepreneur Yeo Es-der in 1994, and the couple have two sons.